Extensible tower.



H. G. DONIGAN. EXTENSIBLE TOWER.

APPLIOATTON FILED OCT. 6, 1911.

2,09 Patented Mar. 31,1914,

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APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 6; 1911. Patented Max:131, 1914.

H. G. DONIGAN.

EXTENSIBLE TOWER.

APPLICATION IILED OUT. 6, 1911.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

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A PPLIOA'I'ION FILED OUT. 6, 1911. I i Y Y Y Patented Mar. 31', 1914.

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H. G. DONIGAN. EXTBNSIBLE TOWER.

AHLIGATION FILED 001. e, 1911.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914,

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HORN G. DONIGAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

'EXTENsIBLE 'rownn.

To all whom it may concern:

mounting upon a movable base, preferably a motor car, or truck, and embodies supplemental supports which are projected toward and. from the burning building, and which are braced against vibration due to the passage of the water through the hose.

The invention further embodies means for bracing the tower and maintaining the vehicle against movement throughout the time that the tower is connected to a build ing and during the raising and lowering movements of the tower.

A, structural embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereof:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the tower mounted upon a vehicle and designed for use as. a fire-apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side eleva- 4 tion of Fig. 1, the tower being shown in both figures as in its lowered position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the tower in elerated position and as connected at its top to a building; Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view, partly i i-section, of the body of the vehicle, showing the mechan for elevating the tower and the connec of the main hose with said tower; Fig. a transverse vertical sectional view of Fig. 4; Fig. .6 is

a detail view showing the mounting of the guy-ropes employed for bracing the tower, and the vehicle-retaining device; and Fig.7 is an enlarged side elevation of the tower in its lowered position.

Referring to said drawings the improved tower, which is indicated generally by the numeral 1, is depicted as mounted upon a movable base, here shown as constitutedby .a suitable vehicle, preferably motorcar Specification of Letters Patent. Pgfl gntefl May, 31 fiQjL/jfl Application filed October 6, 1911. Serial No. 653,167.

! or truck, designated by the numeral 2. The tower proper consists primarily of a series arranged in stepped relation within one another, the outermost, or lowest shell being provided at its lower end with a ring or collar 1 that is fastened to a bed 5 secured, in turn, to the floor 6 of the car. At its upper end, each cylinder is provided with a collar 7 which supports the collar on the next inner cylinder. The upper end of the innermost cylinder is continued upward to a slight extent, and is fastened to a plate. 13. To raise and lower the tower, a pair of :elements are arranged upon opposite sides of the tower, and their component levers 15 are arranged and connected with each other in the usual manner. The free ends of the nected with depending lugs 16 provided upon plate 13, and those of the lowermost levers are connected to blocks 17 slidable in guides 18 mounted upon base 6. The adjacent ends of the corresponding levers of the two series or sets are connected by tubular rods 19,011 which, in turn, are rotatably mpunted sockets 20 that receive the lower ends of pairs of cross-braces 21.. These braces are slidably connected adjacent their upper ends with rotatably mounted doublesleeves 22 that are carried by trunnions 23 said brace ends being equipped with nuts 24:. which serve to limit the upward movement of the cylinders.

The lazy-tongs are operated by moving the pairs of blocks 17 toward-and from each other, this being preferably efiected by providing said blocks with threaded axial openings through which extend the threaded ends 25 of a pair of horizontal shafts 26, the arrangement being such that upon rotation of either shaft the two blocks mounted thereon will be caused to approach or recede from each other according to the direction in which the shaft is rotated. Shafts 26 are themselves rotated in unison from the main drive shaft 27 through the agency of intermeshing worm gears 28 and 29, the lastof nested or telescoped cylindrical Shel-ls 3,

uppermost levers of each lazy-tong are con-.

mentioned shaft being journaled in brackets lazy-tongs 14 are preferably provided. These provided upon the cylinder collars 7 the 30 mounted on base 6, and being driven 1 either manually or from the engine by means of suitable transmission gearing.

In addition to the braces 21, there is further provided, for the purpose of steadying the tower against sidewise swaying movement, when elevated, a'pair of guy-r0pes 31 which are attached at their upper ends to eyes 32 secured to plate 13, the lower ends of these ropes being woundupon drums 33 carried by depending spindles 34 connected to base 6, as depicted in Fig. 5.. Interme-.

- 36 that are pivotally connected at their ends with the opposite side members 37 of theframe or chassis of the car, said-braces being provided at their apices withguide pulleys 38 and with depending angular brackets 39.

The frame sides are apertured, as indicated by the numeral 40 in Figs. 5 and 6, to permit the ropes to be'led to the hollow brace mem-- bers 35 from the drums, and the latter, in turn, are provided with bevel gears 41 which mesh with similar gears 42 fast on shaft 27. Shaft 27 carries a ratchet wheel 43 which is engaged by a pawl 44, said pawl being disengagedmanually or otherwise, from said check any tendency .of the ropes to unwind from their drums when the tower sways to either side.

The aforementioned side braces 36 are disposed adjacent to and parallel with the frame sides 37 during the time that the car is being driven to or froma fire, and are held in such position by means of suitable latches 45 which are carried by the car and are designed to engage clamp screws 46 revolubly mounted on the horizontal 'lower arms of the brackets 39. Then the tower is to be raised, however, these braces are swung outwardly to a position at right-angles to the frame sides, and their screws 46 are tightened against the ground, so as to prevent the car from tipping toward either side.

Plate 13 at the top of the 'tower proper serves to support a turntable 4.7 on which latter there is mounted the main platform 48, a series of roller-bearings 49 being inter-' posed between said turn-table and a stationary circular rack 50 that is secured directly upon the upper face of said plate. To rotate said platform relative to the tower there is provided a pinion 51 carried by a vertical shaft 52, which'shaft is secured to the platform and isfurnished with a hand-wheel or similar operating element. The platform 55; it normally occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and is held against rotation from such position by any suitable devices, I

means of a rope ladder 57 connected thereto .at'i'ts upper end, the lower portionof the ladder being coiled up or laid underneath one of the seats in theback partof the car. Whenthe tower structure is lowered, the tubes 19 that connect the ends of the lazy tong levers 15 may also be used to gain ao- I cess to the platform, these tubes themselves constituting ladders, as it were.

The water for fighting the fire is supplied to the main hose 58, fromany suitable source or sources byway of a cross-pipe 59 provided with a central inlet connection 60, and

at each end with a series of. outlet-connections 61. The inlet 60 is designed for connection with the rear end of hose 58, which latter, when not in use, may be laid or coiled up in the back part of the car'in the usual -manner, but which, when about to be used,

is led through an opening 62 in bed 5 into and through the interior of the hollow tower structure, and through a passage 63 at the top of the tower produced by registering openings in the parts 13, 50, 47 and 48. Upon the platform 48 is pivotally mounted,

by means-of a yoke 64 withwhich it is provided, a nozzle 65, to which the upper end of hose 58 may be connected. In addition, tothe main hose 58, there may be provided a supplemental hose 66 which is connected to a chemical tank 67 supported in any desired manner upon the-car, and is led upwardly, from a receptacle 68 'wherein it is normally coiled, between a pair of roller-s69 carried by a bracket 70-secured to platform 48'; the nozzle atthe upper end of this hose is normally engaged by a clamp 71 attached to one of the platform rails 54:.

.The arrangement of the two hose is such, therefore, that both will be gradually raised with the platform, when the latter is being elevated, by reason of their connectionthereto, and, when said platform has been raised to the required. height, the nozzleof the chemical hose may be readily released from clamp 71 and that hose taken into the burning building, if desired, as hereinafter described, the passage of said hose between the rollers 69 facilitating its being drawn into the building.

In order to enable the fire-men to enter the building, and, also, to permit the occupants of the building to escape therefrom is" equipped at opposite sides with rails 5i l onto the main platform 48, one or more sup and'is extended slightly toward the opposite endg of the car, as indicated by the numeral pleinontal platforms 72 may be provided,

two of such platforms being utilized in the eas es construction illustrated wherein they are shown as located directly in line with the extensions 55 of'thesmain platform. They are preferably in the form of extensible booms, each constituted by side and bottom pairs of lazy-tongs 73 and 74. The side lazy-tongs 7 3 occupy parallel vertical planes, and their component levers 75 are connected with each other at intervals by horizontal eross-rods 7 6, To extend or retract each boom,'there is provided a con trally-fulcrumed lever 78 mounted upon the corresponding extension 55 and connected through the agencyof a link 79 with the adjacent lazy-tongs 7 3', a suitable detent mechanism 80 being provided to hold the lever in adjusted position.

From the foregoing it will be understood that .when the car has reached the scene of the fire, the main platform may be raised to the height necessary to bring it approximately on a line with one of the windows in the burning building, after which, said platform may be rotated in the manner hereinabove described to aline either of its supplemental platforms with that window, the supplemental platform being subsequently extended toward the window. As further regards the several platforms with which the tower is provided, it may be stated that when the supplemental platforms are in their normal or retracted position, the combined length of said supplemental platforms and the main platform is approximately equal to that of the car. On the other hand, when both supplemental platforms are fully extended, their outer ends will reach to the buildings upon opposite sides of the street,- in case it becomes necessary to extend both i platforms in such manner. The tower itself.

is normally of such a height as to permit it to pass without obstruction beneath the trolley'wires when the car is running to or from a fire. An endwise movable rod 81 is slidably supported in a pair of sleeves 82', which latter 'are swiveled to sleeves that underlie the sleeves 82 and are slidable endwise along the rail 54:, which latter is of arc-shape. The rod 81 performs a dual function, namely, it steadies the tower against vibrations set up by the passage of the water. through hose 58, and it also'provides a hand rail for the supplemental platforms 72. The outer end of this rod carries a clamp comprising fixed and movable jaws 83 and 84, the latter of which is slidable longitudinally of the rod and is held in adjusted position by means of a pin 85 adapted for interchangeable engagement in a series of apertures 86 formed through the rod. Arm 84 is further provided with a clamp-screw 87 which affords sition' through the agency of set-screws 88 borne by the sleeves 82.

.The operation of the invention is believed to be obvious from the foregoing and to require, in consequence, no separate description, it being apparent that upon rotation of the drive shaft 27 in the proper direction, the lazy-tongs 14; will be extended through the agency of the gear connections 29 and 28 between that shaft and thetwo-block shifting shafts 26, and will raise up the main platform, which latter is supported and held against swaying movement by the braces 21 and the guy-ropes 31, and, in addition, by the adjustable clamp rod 81. When the platform is raised, it carries with it the main and auxiliary hose 58 and 66, and, also, the rope ladder 57. On reaching the required height the platform may be turned in the proper direction and the auxiliary platforms then extended. The car itself is steadied by swinging the angular braces 36 into oper:

ground clamps 46.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with a rotatable plat form, an arc-like horizontal rail rigidly supportedthereon, a pair of spaced sleeves slidably mounted on the rail for movement longitudinally of the rail, superposed sleeves swiveled to the first named sleeves, a rod movable endwise through said second named sleeves and provided at its outer end with a clamp adapted for engagement with the wall of a building, and means to hold the rod in adjusted position.-

2. In combination with an extensible tower, and means for actuating the tower, a movable base for the tower, a pair of V- shaped braces arranged on opposite sides 'of the base, meansfor pivoting the free of the upper leg to said base, means at substantially right angles to the lower leg for pivoting'the latter to the base whereby to allow movement of the braces into position each brace being hollow, a pulley connected to the apex of :ch brace to substantially aline with the interior of the lower leg, guyropes connected at one end to the top of the tower and being led around said pulleys and passed through the hollow lower legs of said braces, means. for winding the other end of each rope, means to operate the winding means in unison, and ground engaging means connected to the apices of said braces.

3. In combination with an extensible tower having a main rotatable platform at the top thereof, and a supplemental platform connected to the gnain platform and extensible endwise therefrom, aniiendwise platform and extending parallelthere with ative position and subsequently lowering the end at right angles to said base, the lower leg of adjustable rod overlying the supplemental I and having a clamp at its outer end for enthe rod providing a hand rail for the supgagement with a Window or the like, a supplemental platform. 10 port on the main platform to which said rod In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my isadjustably connected, means for holding signature in thepresence of two Witnesses.

Said rod in adjusted position on said sup- HORN G. DONIGAN.

port, and means for rotating the main lat- Witnesses: form to direct the supplemental platiorm LOTTIE M. Fox, and said rod toward the Window or the like, BERTHA VON BEHRENS.

Copies of this iaatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 0 

